Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-02-19
A LITTLE HEROINE.

was ten years old, when, on the
day after Thanksgiving, she deci
led she would receive callers on
New Years Day. Her Aunt jane
came to dinner at Thanksgiving,
and 1t was then Enid heard bel
mother and Aunt Jane describe the
whole thing. Enid is one of those
charming young ladies' who are at
the table ''secn but not heard, "and
this was loubly charming because
she was very comely maiden fol
one so young. She could talk with
the most delightful freedom when
the time and place allowed: Al
dinner she merely partcok of the
good things,and said"Ycs, Marin, +"
and "ihank YOU" and elf you
please" and looked as sweet as
She could, particularly when the
candy came in with the black cof-
coffee. Not that she ever par
took of the coffee, as she had not
vet reached years of indiScretion,
when people drink black coffee
Well, Az before remarked, she WAS
seen, but not heard, which gave
her a fine chance to hear every
thing that WAS said, and make up
her own opinion about it.
Aunt Jane said she should re-
ceivc OH New YEARS. Day. and her
mother said that, If it was convcn
lent for Aunt Jane, she would like
to receive at the same time at Aunt
James house. The two ladies
agreed that this WAS a good ar :
rangement, as Cicily, the parlor
girl, and Brigetta Maria, the cook,
and Thomas Augustus, the butler,
for some singular reason, had de-
cided that they all wanted that
particular day for Il holiday. Enid
remarked to herself that they, too,
probably wanted to receive, and,if
they did, it would only leave Mercy
Patience Jones, the chamber girl,
at home.
"She won't mind," said Enid 70
herself. "Nlercy Patience neversfe-
ceives, she's much too old. s2She
must be seventy three and two
months by this time; for she was
mothers own nurse when mother
was ii baby"
So 1t was all arranged. Ends
mother was to spend New Years
Day and evening at Aunt James
and I'LL the servants, except Mercy
Patience, were to have Il holiday
Enid wondered low it could be a
Happy New Year if the first day
was to be spent at home all alone
with Mercy Patience Jones. She
thought it all over, and had a most
brilliant idea. She would receive
herself. Sue knew just how to do
it. You put on your best clothes
and sit in the parlor, and folks
come in and say: "How'd do'" and
"It's very warm for this time OF
year." and Il wish you II happy
New Year," and then you say,
"Thank you; it Is pretty warm, 'and
"Won't you have some cakef" and
81 thank you very kindly. Many
happy returns. Hope you had a
pleasant time. Come AGAIN. Good
By.
She mentioned her little plan tc
her mother aud her mother said:
Eyes, dear; so you shall. You
can invite some Of your girl friends
to call on you that day, and Mercy
Patience can make some lemonade
and perhaps some cake for your
guests"
"Thank you very kindly" sait
| Enid; '.but | don't want to ask the
girls. Ladies stay at home and re
ceive the gentlemen"
oh! L see. Your ladyshil
wants the boys to come too. Very
we'll; ask Oracle and Ellen ant
Mary to bring their brothers will
them"
Enid was not wholly satisfied
with the arrangement; but she &C
cepted it without serious objec
ton.
"The girls can receive with me
and that will be lust the same. III
tell them to come first, and thel
the boys can call, and we will re
ceive them just asmotherand aun
Jane receive their callers"
This is the way she arranged tht
affair, and in due time invitations
written on postal cards, were duly
sent out five girls and seven boy
who lived i'll he same block. Their
Christmas came, and i'll the excite
ment of this important occasion
New Years Day was forgotten fol
awhile. 1t is wonderful how sool
New Years Day comes after Christ
mas: and almost before she knew j
Enid t0uDu she muSC prepare lO
the eventful day when she would
receive for the first time. She hat
seen each Of the five girls aud sew
Ell boys, and all had said the.
would be pleased to come.
The day broke at last, though
Enid had been awake for an houl
wondering if it ever would be day
light. No wonder it was so dark
1t was raining hard. Breakfast wa
very late, for Brigetta Maria ant
Thomas Augustus and Cicely wer'
in no particular hurry. 1t did no
make any difference; for it was
holiday, and Euid's father was SO
ing to spend the day i'll Snaklnj
,.oIlr and hAr mother in reCHlylni